Services / Brakes and suspension
Brake and suspension repairs in Cardiff
The two systems that decide whether the car stops and stays pointed where you put it. We keep the old parts so you can see exactly what you paid for.
What is included
- Brake pads and discs, front and rear
- Brake fluid change, with the moisture content tested first
- Calipers, sliders, guide pins, hoses and hard lines
- Handbrake and electronic parking brake service and adjustment
- Shock absorbers, springs and top mounts
- Suspension arms, ball joints, drop links and bushes
- ABS and stability control faults diagnosed and repaired
- Road test before and after, so the fix is proven not assumed
What it costs
Brake and suspension prices swing enormously by vehicle, because a set of discs for a small hatchback and a set for a large four wheel drive are not comparable jobs. We quote per vehicle after we have seen it, and we offer the choice of genuine, OEM or quality aftermarket parts so the price can meet your budget honestly.
How long it takes
Pads and discs on one axle is usually a couple of hours. Suspension work is normally a half day. Anything seized or corroded takes longer, and we will ring you before it costs you more.
Which makes
All makes. On the German marques we also handle electronic parking brakes, air suspension and adaptive damping, which need the diagnostic software to retract, code and calibrate correctly.
Ring the workshop with your registration and we will give you a price for your exact vehicle, not a range that turns into something else when you arrive.
Brakes and suspension, questions answered
How do I know my brakes need doing?
Squealing under light braking, a grinding noise, a pedal that travels further than it used to, a shudder through the wheel when you slow from speed, or a warning light. Any of those is worth a look now rather than next month.
Do I have to replace discs when I replace pads?
Not always. Discs have a minimum thickness stamped on them, and if they are above it and not scored or warped, pads alone are fine. We measure them and show you the reading rather than selling you a set by default.
How often should brake fluid be changed?
Most manufacturers say every two years. Brake fluid absorbs water over time, and water boils under hard braking, which is when you least want a soft pedal. We test the moisture content rather than guessing.
My car has air suspension and it has dropped overnight.
That is usually a leaking strut, a failed valve block or a tired compressor. It is a common fault on the larger German cars and it is one we see regularly, so bring it in and we will tell you which of the three it is.
Related services
MOT testing
Class 4 testing on site, with the repairs done in the same workshop if something needs putting right.
Diagnostics
Dealer level equipment, and the experience to read what it is telling us.
Car servicing
Interim, full and major engine servicing, to the manufacturer schedule, logged in your car's digital service history.
Ring us about brakes and suspension
Tell us the registration and what it is doing. We will tell you what it needs, what it costs and when we can take it.
Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. Drop the car at Cardiff Marine Village, Penarth Road.